Hey Friends and Family,

I'm putting together a GoFundMe account to support my sister and her community in Waynesville, North Carolina

My sister and her 9mo twin boys and her partner live in Western North Carolina, 20 mins from Asheville in a town at the foot of the Smoky Mountains called Waynesville. Their home survived Hurricane Helene (they were incredibly lucky) but their town and community has been devastated. At present, the water is contaminated and must be boiled, they are already experiencing food, water and gas scarcity. There is very little access to their town from any nearby city--air lifted supplies are coming, but slowly. Many homes still do not have electricity--none have Wifi. The flooding and devastation has meant folks have to stay elsewhere for safety.

Peak tourist season in Waynesville is happening now--as the leaves change season, tourists traditionally flood to the area. An entire community of bartenders, wait staff, small business owners and workers will be out of work as the destruction is managed. With no deliveries coming in and a FEMA emergency being called, there will be no tourists this season. This is the time of year where they make significant income to support them through slower seasons.

All funds donated will be distributed to folks my sister knows directly to help them cover basic needs as they wait out this recovery.

Thank you for any donation, even something small. Love to all:) I'll also share some of the strategies her community implemented to keep folks safe and reach out to family outside of the area. We all have to be ready for these kinds of environmental disasters as our world changes and climate change impacts our way of living. Hugs and love.

Larissa

San Diego, CA